"With everything I've been through in my whole life, the thing for me to be here today and my only purpose in life is to find ways to help people and encourage people and makeourworldabetterplace, " he said.
Mr Rogge said that like the messengers in ancient times who shared news of the Olympic truce - the laying down of arms for the Games - "the torchbearers who carry this flame to London will spread the message of sport's capacity to promote peace and to makeourworldabetterplace".
Remember you are fanning embers generating sparks that in the years ahead will catalyze enormous change and will surely makeourworldabetter and brighter place.